The narrow neck mentioned in the Book of Mormon is one of the most well-known parts of the geography. But, how many narrow necks are there in the world?
There are some major criteria needed for a world location to fit the Book of Mormon geography:
- Shipping Timber to an Area with No Timber. Helaman 2:10 [3:10] states, "And it came to pass as timber was exceeding scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping; and thus they did enable the people in the land northward, that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement." There must be a location south of the land Northward that has sufficient timber to build ships large enough to ship timber to a location northward that doesn't have timber.
- There must be no cold or snow. There is only one reference to snow (I Nephi 3:46 [11:8], "...and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.") This statement was made by Nephi in the Valley of Lemuel (in the Old World). So, the people in the Book of Mormon knew snow, yet there are no references to cold or snow mentioned in the Promised Land.
- There must be an east wind of destruction. As for wind, there are several different kinds of references used. The use of "wind" is very distinct and purposeful. The descriptions range from mild wind to winds of destruction ("whirlwinds" and "east wind"). A key description for locating the lands of the Book of Mormon is that is has to be someplace where a wind from the east is strong enough to cause immediate destruction and occurs often enough to be useful as an analogy. In Mosiah 5:50 [7:31], "...they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction."
- There is criteria for the narrow neck. A key description is in Alma 13:76 [22:32]: And now it was only the distance of a day and a half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful, and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea. Many people interpret this to describe the west sea to the east sea, but it just describes a point to the east. It is important to note that this description does NOT describe going all the way to the sea east, just to a point on the east. A similar construction is seen in Alma 22:8 [50:8]: And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west. Again, both seas are not mentioned, just a point (to the west). So, how many miles can a person travel in 1.5 days?
- It is very easy for a fit person to travel 40 miles in a day over unimproved trails (60 miles in a day and a half).
- American indian runners have been known to run 75 to 100 miles per day.
- Travel through jungle where no trails exist can be as low as 10 to 15 miles per day (the lower limit).
- The world record for a 48-hour run is 428,890 meters (266 miles), or 200 miles in a day and a half on a perfectly flat track (the upper limit).
- Canoe travel on flat, smooth, fast-flowing rivers can be up to 326 miles in 24 hours, but only one river meets this criteria (Yukon). Otherwise, believe it or not, travel is the same, or less, than foot travel.
- As a best estimate, the width of the narrow neck should be between 15 and 200 miles.
- There must be a north-flowing river south of the narrow neck. The river Sidon headwaters are in the South Wilderness which are south of the narrow neck.
- There must be elevated areas on the west and south parts of the land. There is a south wilderness and the Hermounts were on the west.
- There must be an elevated area on the east that borders an east sea. The east wilderness bordered the east sea.
- There must be at least two large bodies of water north of the narrow neck. Helaman 2:3-4 [3:3] ...there were an exceeding great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward, to inherit the land; And they did travel to an exceeding great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water, and many rivers.
- There needs to be significant geological forces (earthquakes, volcanism, and tsunamis) that can explain the destructions described in III Nephi.
Different locations that have narrow necks are listed below. Each has an assessment of these major criteira.
